Recruiting gang members easier than recruiting fruit-pickers

What a joke. Yesterday I blogged about the so-called labour shortage in Southland. It would however appear gangs can recruit people to sell 'P'.

The Central Otago district mayor said a growing number of Mongrel Mob members and affiliates who were recruiting teenagers in Cromwell could be driven out of town by locals.

Police yesterday confirmed a group of gang affiliates had moved into the area in recent weeks, and had established themselves at three properties in the town...

Earlier this month, Canterbury police expressed concern both the Mongrel Mob and Black Power were recruiting in smaller South Island centres to reach profitable new drug markets. At the time Inspector Dave Gaskin said the gangs were trying to spread their drug business.

"The Mongrel Mob are the catalyst, they are driving it. They pick on the easy targets, the low socio-economic, low-intelligence kids and as a result they are getting a foothold in the area."

And where do the low socio-economic kids come from? Frequently, welfare-dependent, single parent, workless homes.

A government too willing

It's that time of the year when we hear the same old story about fruit grower's desperation to hire harvesting staff.

More than 11,000 foreigners in New Zealand have been individually urged to immediately take up seasonal work in Central Otago, as desperate cherry growers in the district teeter on the brink of losing their crucial export harvests because of a labour shortage.

From Boxing Day, every visitor thought to be in New Zealand with a Holiday Working Scheme permit was sent text messages and emails urging them to head to Central Otago, in a last-ditch effort by Horticulture New Zealand and the Department of Labour to boost workers in the district.

Central Otago has been recognised as having an absolute labour shortage by Work and Income New Zealand for the past three years.

There are 19,000 people aged 18-64 picking up a benefit in Southland alone. I understand some would not be able to do the physical work required and some would need to make arrangements for young children. That aside I cannot accept there isn't labour available in that pool. Whether it is willing is another matter. Perhaps the government should be less willing to provide them with an alternative.

The 'J ' word

A 5 year-old punches his mother in the face and she gets the headline for punching him back. Then she prostrates herself before the public and judiciary. Get this line, about the new anti-smacking laws;

It also meant people who saw such things would be forced to make judgments on other people's parenting and to weigh up whether they thought it was necessary to call police to intervene, she said.

Now there's an idea I hadn't thus far appreciated. I am sure Sue Bradford wouldn't be very happy about the thought she has forced society back towards judgmentalism. Most liberal lefties worship at the altar of non-judgmentalism and moral relativism. How often do you hear one say, walk a mile in my shoes before you judge me?

The left produces a curious mix of permissiveness and authoritarianism, does it not.

A word about Xmas bingeing

At last. Some good advice received via e-mail...


I just read an article on the dangers of heavy drinking....
Scared the hell out of me.
So that's it!


After today, no more reading.

Although I think I can guarantee 'safe' reading here. Thanks so much for all the comments made over the past two years. Have a great day. I'm off to ice gingerbread men and marinate the steak for the barbie... and wouldn't you know it....it's persisting down....
Merry Xmas!

Upstairs, Downstairs

Did you see this story on TV3 news last night?

An elderly couple have only seen each other about 12 times in a year because she lives upstairs and he lives downstairs. Apparently the health department promised them a lift over a year ago and it hasn't materialised. We, the audience, are supposed to gnash our teeth and wring our hankies, I gather, as the National MP Paul Hutchison rails at the useless, heartless government.

Sorry but I find this scenario ridiculous. Why haven't they moved to a one storey home? Where are the friends and family who could help them do this? The husband has terminal cancer but the wife could live for years yet with MS and if she hasn't seen her partner more than 12 times in a year that means she hasn't been out of the house more than 12 times. The house is completely unsuitable. Paul Hutchison should be giving this couple better advice. Telling them Labour has made their lives miserable isn't helping.

Doing it tuff

Alas, there are no christmas presents under our tree this year.

No, we have not fallen on hard times and nope, I haven't fashionably adopted the greenie, meanie mantra, muttering about the filthy commercialism of Xmas, the vile exploitation and extravagance of giving.

No. The reason we have no gifts under our tree is a christmas tree terrorist is at large. No bright bauble, no twinkling tinsel and no lovingly wrapped parcel is safe.



We sent in the riot police...to no avail.



The only relief from this onslaught is when the terrorist sleeps.